Modern Israel: vision and reality
Claudia Prestel and Andrew Markus
8 points
* One lecture and one 2-hour seminar per week
* Second
semester
* Clayton
* Students wishing to take this subject without
having taken a first-year history sequence may do so by enrolling under JWC or
RLT subject codes (see entries under Jewish civilisation or Religion and
theology) or with permission from the head of the History department.
Objectives On the successful completion of this subject students should have gained an understanding of specific issues in the social and cultural history of modern Israel and of conceptual issues involved in the study of national identity.
Synopsis This subject examines social and cultural issues in the history of modern Israel. After an introduction to Zionist ideologies and the history of the Yishuv, it explores struggles for equality, with particular reference to socialist ideals; the kibbutz movement, and the position of women; the integration of immigrants and the Sephardi experience; changing identities, including discussion of the myth of the new Hebrew man and the significance of religious fundamentalism; memory and changing attitudes to the Holocaust; and relations with Arabs and different conceptions of the future state. Extensive use will be made of visual material in the seminar programme, including Zionist films of the 1930s and Israeli documentaries and feature films.
Assessment second year Two short papers (1000 words each): 35%
*
Research essay (2500 words): 40%
* Take-home examination (1500 words):
25%
Assessment third year Two short papers (500 and 1000 words): 30%
*
Research essay (3500 words): 50%
* Take-home examination (1000 words): 20%
* At third year students are expected to formulate their own research
topic, base their research essay substantially on primary sources, and
demonstrate awareness of the ongoing debates about the philosophy and practice
of history.
Recommended texts
Evron B Jewish state or Israeli nation? Indiana U P, 1995
Hertzberg A The Zionist idea: A historical analysis and reader Athaneum, 1972
Laquer W A history of Zionism Schocken, 1989
Leibowitz Y Judaism, human values, and the Jewish state CUP, 1992
Orr A Israel: Politics, myths, and identity crises Pluto, 1994
Sachar H A history of Israel 2 vols, OUP, 1976, 1987
Vital D Zionism: Formative years OUP, 1982
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